Southeast Asian art has a unique aesthetic that blends indigenous motifs with artistic styles and subject matter introduced by seafaring merchants, primarily from India and Sri Lanka. Dr. Gardner Harris will explore the evolution of Southeast Asian art, focusing on the intersections of ‘internal’ and ‘external’ artistic styles.

Bio: Gardner Harris is the Director of the Shraman South Asian Museum and Learning Center Foundation. He received a Ph.D. in Asian Cultures and Languages from the University of Texas at Austin. He was a recipient of the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education to conduct dissertation research in South India. Gardner Harris has designed 14 college courses and taught at five universities and colleges.